Convertible play bench

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to children&#39;&#39;s furniture which may be used as a chair, table, activity desk or as a toy. The invention includes a pair of side panels which are connected together by a pair of fixed wall panels, and a pivotally mounted panel which may be selectively placed in any of several positions to present either of its two surfaces for use by the child or to serve as a closure for a storage compartment, a drawer or storage container is removably positionable within a storage compartment formed by the fixed wall panels and the pivotally mounted panel.

United States Patent inventor Jeffrey D. Breslow Chicago, ill.

Apr. 23, 1969 July 13, 197 1 Marvin Glass and Associates Chicago, [11.

A ppl. N 0. Filed Patented Assignee CONVERTIBLE PLAY BENCH 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner.lames T. McCall Attorney-James F. Coffee ABSTRACT: This invention relates to childrens furniture which may be used as a chair, table, activity, desk or as a toy. The invention includes a pair of side panels which are connected together by a pair of fixed wall panels, and a pivotally mounted panel which may be selectively placed in any of several positions to present either of its two surfaces for use by the child or to serve as a closure for a storage compartment, a drawer or storage container is removably positionable within a storage compartment formed by the fixed wall panels and the pivotally mounted panel.

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SHEET 2 or 2 INVENTOQ L/EFFAfJ Q 5/9551 0W avag gy ATTO NEY CONVERTIBLE PLAY BENCH This invention relates in general to play furniture suitable for use by children. In particular, this invention relates to improvements in childrens play furniture which enhances its utility and incorporates a variety of entertaining activities.

The apparatus of this invention particularly concerns improvements in the childrens furniture disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,942, issued to Jeffrey D. Breslow on Aug. 8, 1967, particularly in providing a storage compartment and numerous activity items for children in connection therewith.

The childrens furniture of the invention comprises a multipurpose unit including a storage compartment for removably receiving a storage container, such as a toolbox, wherein activity implements for use with the furniture piece may be conveniently stored. The versatile furniture unit also includes a movable panel which may be supported in a plurality of positions and which also serves to close off the store compartment to hold the container securely in position.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide an improved child's furniture piece.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved childs furniture piece including integral apparatus for providing children with numerous forms of entertaining activities and providing means for storage of accessory items. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved child's furniture piece having a storage compartment for removable receipt of a storage container suitable for holding playing pieces for use with the apparatus of the invention.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent to those versed in the art upon an understanding of the following detailed description of the childs furniture piece taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment thereofis shown, and wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the improved childs furniture piece of the invention and the removable storage container;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational cross-sectional view of the improved furniture piece taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the furniture piece, repositioned 90 from the position shown in FIG. 1, and suitable for use as a seat;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the furniture piece, repositioned I80 from position shown in FIG. 3, and suitable for use as a peg pounding board;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the furniture piece, in the same general position as shown in FIG, 1, but with its movable panel supported in an intermediate position displaying a magnetically permeable surface;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the furniture piece in the same general position as shown in FIG. 3 but with its movable panel pivoted and supported in a position approximately 315 counterclockwise; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the furniture piece in the same general position shown in FIG. 1 but with the movable panel pivoted approximately 215 counterclockwise.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, wherein the improved furniture piece of the invention is shown in a position suitable for use as a bench, the furniture piece comprises a air of generally square-shaped, spaced apart vertical side panels 10 and 12 having transverse walls 14 and 16 extending therebetween. Walls 14 and 16 are secured to panels 10 and 12 such as by threaded fasteners or other suitable means, not shown, to form a rigid furniture structure. A movable panel 20, extending between and perpendicular to vertical panels I0 and 12, is pivotally secured to the vertical panels adjacent a panel edge 21, at 22 and 24. Panel defines a handle opening 23 adjacent edge 21 to facilitate movement of the furniture piece from one location to another.

One surface of movable panel 20, shown as the upper surface in FIGS. 1 and 2, carries a rectangular plate 26 fabricated if magnetically permeable material. The lower surface of panel 20 has a blackboard 28 secured thereto which may be used with conventional chalk. The vertical side panels include aligned pairs of apertures 30 and 32 for receiving two pegs 34 for retaining the movable panel in various angular positions relative to the supporting surface.

Transverse walls 14 and 16, along with an end section of movable panel 20 and rails 37 and 38, define a storage compartment 36 suitable for removably receiving a toolboxlike storage container 38 having a hinged lid 40 and a handle 42. The handle is disposed at the top of the toolbox to facilitate removal of the box from its compartment after lifting panel 20 and pivoting it in a counterclockwise direction.

Transverse wall member 14 defines a series of circular openings 44 along an edge 45 adjacent the movable panel, which form a pounding board for use with a number of-cylindrical pounding elements 52.

Finally, a variety of activity play pieces such as a hammer 46, a screwdriver 48, a number of magnet carrying letters 50, the pounding elements 52, vehicles 54 and chalk 56, are provided for engaging in the various activities presented by the furniture piece of the invention.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the furniture piece may be used as a seat by turning it 90 clockwise from the position shown in FIG. ll whereupon transverse wall member 14 forms the horizontal portion of the seat, and movable panel 20 forms the seat back. In the position of FIG. 3, panel 20 is supported on pivots 2224 adjacent edge 21, but movement of the panel is prevented by captivating it between abutting edge 45 and pegs 34 which are wedged into apertures 32.

Upon turning the bench 180 from the position shown in FIG. 3, transverse wall 14 is horizontally oriented and fully accessible, as best seen in FIG. 4. In this position, the wall and its apertures 44 form a pounding bench which may be used with pounding elements 52 and hammer 46.

Turning now to FIG. 5, whereat the furniture piece is oriented generally similar to the orientation shown in FIG. I, the movable panel is elevated to an intermediate attitude and supported by inserting pegs 34 into aligned apertures 32. With I chalk 56.

Finally, the furniture piece may be returned to the orientation shown in FIG. 1 and the panel rotated 215 counterclockwise so that the free edge of panel 20 rests on a supporting surface whereupon the magnetically permeable surface 26 forms a ramp or slide upon which vehicles 54 may be gravitationally propelled.

What has been described is an improved child's furniture piece incorporating various activities for the amusement and entertainment of children.

It is obvious that upon study of those skilled in the art, the disclosed invention may be altered or modified without departing from its inventive concept.

What I claim is:

1. In a juvenile furniture piece including a pair of spaced apart, generally vertical panels suitable for resting on a supporting surface, wall means extending between said panels and fixedly secured thereto and forming a rigid structure, said wall means comprising two contiguous walls disposed at right angles to each other and extending between the vertical panels and within the area of the latter, a pair of rail members fixed to said vertical panels in parallel, spaced relation to one of said contiguous walls, a movable panel pivotally mounted between said vertical panels and selectively positionable at various positions relative to said supporting surface, a storage compartment defined by said vertical panels and said wall means and including an opening extending between said vertical 3 The juvenile furniture piece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable panel is selectively positioned between said vertical panels by means including a plurality of pegs which are adapted to be inserted through aligned openings in said vertical panels to extend into the path of movement of said pivotally mounted, movable panel. 

1. In a juvenile furniture piece including a pair of spaced apart, generally vertical panels suitable for resting on a supporting surface, wall means extending between said panels and fixedly secured thereto and forming a rigid structure, said wall means comprising two contiguous walls disposed at right angles to each other and extending between the vertical panels and within the area of the latter, a pair of rail members fixed to said vertical panels in parallel, spaced relation to one of said contiguous walls, a movable panel pivotally mounted between said vertical panels and selectively positionable at various positions relative to said supporting surface, a storage compartment defined by said vertical panels and said wall means and including an opening extending between said vertical panels, a storage container removably supported within said compartment, and means for removably securing said movable panel in covering relation to the opening for said storage compartment.
 2. The juvenile furniture piece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage container is a generally rectangular shape drawer adapted to slidably fit between said one wall and said rail members.
 3. The juvenile furniture piece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable panel is selectively positioned between said vertical panels by means including a plurality of pegs which are adapted to be inserted through aligned openings in said vertical panels to extend into the path of movement of said pivotally mounted, movable panel. 